Benedictine (7-6, 3-0 NIIC) dug itself a 10-0 hole in the first three-plus minutes of the game by missing four shots and committing three turnovers in its first seven possessions. However, Burditt scored all seven of her first-half points in a 9-0 run over the next three minutes. Clarke (4-10, 0-1 NIIC) led by no more than four points again until Jamie Loggins scored five straight points to give the Crusaders a 21-14 advantage with 7:30 left in the half.
Tamika Curtis and Dana Sullivan scored back-to-back baskets to get Benedictine even (24-24) for the first time since the opening tip minutes later. Clarke regained a three-point lead on a conventional three-point play from Melissa Randecker with 1:35 left in the half, only to see Megan Walczak knot the game for Benedictine a minute later. Loggins hit a trey on Clarke's final possession of the half to send the hosts to the locker room with a 30-27 lead.
Clarke held a 35-34 lead with 16 minutes left in the game before Benedictine started its run. Curtis gave the Eagles their first lead of the game with a pair of free throws, and Tiffany Hardy hit treys on consecutive possessions - the latter coming after she made a steal - to put Benedictine up by a 42-35 count.
After Loggins stopped the 8-0 run with a bucket, Katie Kunkel had eight points in a 9-1 run to stake the Eagles to a 51-39 lead. Clarke trailed by a 54-46 count after a Lacey McCabe score, but Benedictine had yet another player step up, as Walczak scored nine points in a 10-2 run that gave Benedictine a 64-48 lead and put the game away.
Burditt had plenty of company in double figures for Benedictine; Walczak contributed a career-high 12 points off the bench, while Kunkel recorded a career high in a reserve role for the second straight contest with 11 points. Curtis reached double figures in scoring for the 11th straight game with 11 points, and added 14 rebounds for her fourth double-double of the season and her second in a row.
Clarke was led by Loggins' game-high 20 points, while Leigh Ann Koopmann joined her in double figures with 10 points.
Benedictine's bench outscored its counterparts by a 32-6 count in the win. The Eagles forced 22 Clarke turnovers and limited the hosts to 24% shooting (8-35) in the second half.
Benedictine steps out of league play by playing its second road game in as many days on Thursday, Jan. 13, when it visits the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point.